酒 (jiǔ) is the Chinese character referring to any beverage containing appreciable quantities of ethanol.
Chinese alcohol predates recorded history. Dried residue extracted from 9,000-year-old pottery shows that early beers were already being consumed by the Neolithic peoples in the area of modern China. Made from rice, honey, grapes, and hawthorn, it seems to have been produced similarly to that of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. Here are some of the most common alcoholic beverages consumed in Hainan today.
Areca Nut Liquor (槟榔酒 Binglang Jiu)
This Li Minority specialty liquor is brewed using areca nuts, Shanlan glutinous rice, ginseng, high-quality mineral water, Chinese medicinal herbs and other ingredients. It has a rich and mellow flavor and a fragrant smell. The spirit is claimed to act as a brain tonic, kill tapeworms, increase male energy（Yang 阳）and unclog tonic or as a simple workaday refreshment. It has a relatively low alcohol content. Areca Nut Liquor is reputed not to cause hangovers the following day.
